Shloka 36

हनूमत्संवादः / Hanuman’s Diplomatic Approach to Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्रिस्सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम्।अभ्यभाषत वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यज्ञं पवनात्मजम्।।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu saumitriḥ sugrīvasacivaṃ kapim |

abhyabhāṣata vākyajño vākyajñaṃ pavanātmajam ||

Translation

既如此被言及，善于辞令的娑乌密特利便答复了猴将——苏格利婆之臣、风神之子、同样通晓言语的哈奴曼。

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सौमित्रिः इति विशेषण (having been addressed/instructed)

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय

• saumitriḥ: Saumitri (Lakshmana)
• saumitriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• sugrīva-sacivam: Sugriva's minister
• sugrīva-sacivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक) + saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; kapim इति विशेषण; समासः: सुग्रीवस्य सचिवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• kapim: the monkey
• kapim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abhyabhāṣata: addressed/spoke to
• abhyabhāṣata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√bhāṣ (भाष् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vākyajñaḥ: skilled in speech
• vākyajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (√jñā धातु, क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सौमित्रिः इति विशेषण; समासः: वाक्यं जानाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• vākyajñam: skilled in speech
• vākyajñam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (√jñā धातु, क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; pavanātmajam इति विशेषण; समासः: वाक्यं जानाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• pavanātmajam: son of the Wind-god (Hanuman)
• pavanātmajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम; समासः: पवनस्य आत्मजः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

Thus instructed, Saumitri who was equally skilled in speach replied to Sugriva's minister, son of the Wind-god

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana (Saumitri)
• Hanuman (Pavanatmaja)
• Sugriva

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma in dialogue: a truthful meeting is sustained by disciplined speech—replying appropriately to an envoy and honoring the rules of approach.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanuman’s initial address, Lakshmana responds, beginning the formal exchange that will lead to friendship with Sugriva.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vāk-jñāna (wisdom in speech): measured, purposeful words used to build trust and alliance.